VOL.
ADDRESS OF
THOMAS S. KENAM,
A'Cttng Grand High Priest,
./r i'fuu'Iotir^ iilh,
OoMFAiuoNS When this beautiful
ami prosperous city of Charlotte was se
lecteil a year ago, as the place of hold tig
this Grarul Convocation, the recollections
■of the great events that cluster' around
her history, were revived.- We thought
■of the hospitality which has always char
acterized the conduct of her citizens. We
thought of the fact of our assenibliiig in
this magnificent Llasonic Temple, erected
l.y your skill and industry. All these
reflections tended to increase our anticin
jiations of pleasure. Rut alas, whatever
jileasure we have realized, has been ac
companied by corresponding sorrow.
Here is the honse of our late Oompani-'n
and Grand High Priest, Tiios. W. Dewey
Here we expected to meet him. But he
is gone. He died on Wednesday mo\ ning,
the 4th day of August, 187G, at his resi
dence in this city, in the 48th yearofhis
age. Iiuelligenoe of the sad event was
co-moninicated to me; and I felt that the
increased responsibility, which your Con-
stituti-on rendered it neoes.sary for me to
■assume as his successor, would be more
than I could properly discharge.
In token of the high esteem in which
he was h-eid by the Gampanions of this
jurisdictioii, and in honor of his distin
guished position, I issued an official an
nouncement of his death, requesting Sub
ordinate Chapters to place on record, a
tribute to his memory, and drape their
altars in mourning for thirty days. Many
of us have been the recipients of his hos
pitality, and none of ns will ever forget
the kindness of him, and his amiable, ac
complished and highly respectable family.
I have no doubt that this Grand Body
will direct a page, in the proceedings of
this Grand Convocation, to be appropri
ately dedicated to the memory of our
deceased friend and Companion, and take
such further steps, as may be necessary to
pay proper respect thereto.
Since the duties of this office devolved
upon me, the following Dispensations
have been issued ; I
December Id, 1675, Raleigh Chapter, j
No, 10, to elect officers. !
February 17, 1876, to organize new 1
Chapter at Farmington, Davie County. !
March 17, 1876, Louisburg Chapter, I
No. 20, granting authority to convene j
and work, until the Grand Chapter sup- !
plied its charter, which was unfortunately 1
destroyed by fire, together with the Hall, |
records and furniture. i
April 29, 1876, Charlotte Chapter, No. j
59, to install officers. I
Being desirous ofa.lopting some means
by which Capitular Masonry in our juris- ;
diction might be advanced, I issued a cir
cular letter to the High Priests of Subord
inate Chaptiire, on December 16th, 1876,
requesting a report of the work, rig of the
Chapt.irs, together with such suggestions,
as might, to them,, seem conducive to the
:future lealtli and growth of our Fraterni-
i t}'- To this letter, there were numerous
jieplies. Some indicated activity and
I prosperity among the Companions. Otli-
; ers were characterized by a tone of des-
; poiulency. One of the Grand Lecturers
I made an encouraging report. The others
; seem to have done but little, either on
I account of the financial inability ofCliap-
j ters to compensate them for their services,
or the absence of a desire on the part of
members to acquire a leasonable amount
of Masonic knowledge.
After eliminating the facts contained
in these replies, I think unmistakable ev
idence is furnished to justify the conclu
sion, that our present condition of apathy
may be traced, first, to the condition of
the country, and second, to the want of
skill in the work by officers of Chapters,
and a want of knowledge of the philoso
phy of the Chapter degree,■=.
The first of these causes should not be
an obstacle. It is true the financial em
barrassn.ent of our people is almost uni
versal, but remember, that we have only
to do our whole duty, and humbly trust
to the Providence of Him, who doeth all
things well.
To remove the second cause, it would
only be necessary perhaps, to call atten
tion to the require-uent of the Resolution
of 1856, which is now in force, and of a
permanent nature; and to urge upon
Chapters the importance of inaugurating
a system of lectures and discussions upon
Masonic subjects. Secure the services of
Grand Lecturers. Provide means to es-
ta,blish respectable Masonic libraries.
Make the institution more attractive to
men of intelligence and literary merit.
Let lis all show our appreciation of the
labors of our Grand Secretary in his prep
aration of the Masonic Code of North
Carolina, by securing a copy thereof.
Though issued by the authority of the
Grand Lodge, it is at the same time, an
important pari of the written law of this
Grand Chapter. The Masonic Journal,
which is published at Greensboro, is wor
til'’ of our support. It is ably edited ;
possesses a high degree of merit; and
contains, besides Masonic literature, well
selected matter, which is calculated to
make its visits desirable and instructive.
^Vith these sources of information, there
is no reason why every Mason in the State
should not thoroughly acquaint himself
with the laws of our government. ’With
out their aid, no good work can be expcu.-
ted, and darkness will continue to over
shadow us,
There stilt exists in our jurisdiction, a
want of uniformity in the Work; and
while “it is impossible that from finite
minds, and finite lips, a uniform flow of
anything should proceed,” yet I appre
hend that some improvement might be
made in this direction. To the end, there
fore, that a remedy may be applied for
che removal of this evil, I respectfully
suggest, that the “work as taught by
Comp. L. L. Stevenson,” be adopted by
this Grand Body ; so that the character
and kind of work in Chapter, may con-,
form to that adopted by the Grand Lodge
for Ancient Graft Masoniy upon which
our Capitular system rests, and without
which it cannot stand.
But whatever our work may be, let me
remind yon, in ihe language of Past
Grand High Priest Hill, tliat “levity or
carelessness in performing e ny part there
of, is destructive of the very purpose in
tended, unbecoming in the workmen,
and an inexcusably perversion of the
mo.st imposing and solemn symbols of
truth.”
On the 29th of February, 1876, I visit
ed Concord Chapter, No. 1, by request,
for the purpose of reconciling some dif
ferences of opinion with regard to raason-
ic law, and correcting some irregulaiities
that- had crept into the work and records
of the Chapter. I' feel grateful to the
Companions of this Chapter for the uni
form kindness and attention shown me
on that occasion. The cheerful manner
in which they yielded obedience to the
rulings I made on points of law, about
which there was a division of sentiment,
afforded me reasonable ground to believe
that my visit wa-s not in vain.
The decisions made during the past
year, are herewitt-submitted for the con
sideration of the Grand Chapter,
(1) The ceremonies may be arrested at
anytime previous to the conferring of
either degree, in a Chapter, as vvell as in
a Blue Lodge, Masonic Code, Page 20,
Sec. 5, While there is no express law
0.1 this subject in the Constitution or By-
Laws of the Grand Chapter, (except as
to qualifications for advancement requir
ed by Article 17,) yet we are at liberty
to invoke the aid of the Common Law of
Masonry, and the rules prescribed for the
government of Ancient Craft Masonry,
in determining questions of this charac
ter. •-
(2) W'hen a profane petitions a Blue
Lodge, it is for the purpose of being made
a Master Mason—so when a Master Ma
son petitions a Ch.epter, it is to be exalted
a Royal Arch Mason. If he is elected
and initiated an Entered Apprentice, it
does rot preclude a member from re
questing a ballot to be taken on Passing
or Raising, Masonic Code, Pages 28726,
Sees. 13-2. This rule is well settled, and
its applicability to similar proceedings in
a Chapter, is equally clear.
(3) In advancing from one degree to
another, the ballot cannot be taken on
proficiency alone. The Masonic ballot is
general, oiot special; -and must be unaiii'
mous either to elector advance. A re
jection of an applicant for advancement
may result from want of suitable prof!
ciency ; or from recently discovered evi
dence of immoral conduct; or from offi
cial notice of expulsion or suspension
from the Blue of which he w’as a member ;
or for reasons known only to the mem
ber voting the blackball; and which
reasons must not be assigned. This is the
existing law. It is urged, however, by
some Companions, that a change of this
rule would be advisable, so that, when
one is rejected on application for a.I-
vanoement, he may be informed of the
reasons for the same, to the end that
further proficiency may be made, or
charges preferred for such condiioi as
may be considered unmasonio, and that
the applicant cjuld be heard extenua
tion, or the fraternity relieved of an un
worthy member,
(4) Reconsideration of a ballot is un
masonio, though a second ballot maybe
had to avoid mistake. It is secret, and
must not he disclosed,. J/asom'c Code,
Page 27, Sec. 11.
(5) here an Entered Apprentice or
a Mark Master has been estopped from
receiving any succeeding degree, he may
i renew his application at any subsequent
I regular meeting of Blue Lodge or Chap
i ter. If a profane is rejected on his ap
plication for degrees in Blue Lodge—or
a Master Mason on his. for the degrees in
; Chapter—it is expressly provided, that
one year must elapse before a second pe
tition will be received : Masonic Code,
Page 28, Sec. 12 ; but the authorities do
not agree as to the period which must
elapse, betw-'een a, rejection for advance
ment, and nenewal of application for
same. Imleed th^-e is no settled rule on
the subject. But as the relation of an
Entered Apprentice to Blue Lodge, or a
Mark Master to Chapter is ditferent from
that of one who has received neither of
these degrees, it would seem to be sound
in principle, as well as leason, that the
same disabilities should not apply to
both.
It will be observed that the intimate
connection existing between Ancient
Craft and Capitular Masonry, neces.si
tales the application of the same rules, in
settling controversies touching the gov
ernment of both organizations. It ,mav
be further noted, that most of the points
above presented are familiar learning,
and the fact that doubts should arise, as
to their proper adjudication, piroves inat
tention to the requirements of our writ
ten law, and forgetfulness of the plainest
Masonic pi inciples.
I beg leave most seriously and earnest
ly, to call the attention -o-f the Grand
Chapter to the fast, that our Or’ohan
Asylums at Oxford and xAsheville, have
not been the recipients of the considera
tion from organized bodies of Royal Arch
Masons, which is due to institutions, so
u.seful, so commendable, so deserving.
They are charitable institutions—sustain
ed by voluntary contributions from vari
ous benevolent societies, and numbers of
our good people. Most of us belong to
some Blue Lodge, and through that me
dium, share the honor of contributing to
their support. It has been the pleasure
of some Companions to sever their mem
bership in Blue Lodge; and unless they
make individual con*ributions-, the Asy
lums get no assistance from them as Pioy-
al Arch Mason.s. I appeal to you, there
fore, to make Capitular Masonry a prac
tical and substantial benefit to the or
phan.
The higher branches of Masonry must
not be relieved from the discharge of im
portant duties, for as we advance, our
duties and obligations become more bind
ing. Then indeed, it would seem, that
the benefits derived from a knowledge of
the higher degrees, should be coupled
with a corresponding increase of burdens.
These Asylums should be the Pride of
the North Carolina Mason. We should
add to the protecting care of that strong
Masonic arm which is stretched over
them, and with the help of God, never
permit it to grow weak. The widow and
orphan are now, and ever have been, the
special objects of Masonic bounty, and
nothing is more gratifying to the true
Mason, than to relieve their necessities,
so far as his aVility will permit-.
Let us then reflect upon the require
ments of this most sublime system of mor
al ethics, and strictly adhere to its sym
bolical teachings- let ns elevate our
standard of usefulness, increase the dig
nity of oiir profession, and preserve the
time honored character of onr Order; re
membering always, 'that through the Re
deeming merits of -Judah’s Lion, we may
be permitted to pass the ordeal of the
Grand Overseers Square, and gain an
entrance into the Grand Council on High.
Thomas S. Kenan,
Acting Grand High Priest.
i'plljjlii
Sill